The mutation theory of aging.

Опубликовано: 19 Май 2026
на канале: The Sheekey Science Show
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Mutations in our normal cells (somatic cells) accumulate with age - but how does the rate of mutation accumulation vary between species and is it predictive of lifespan? And do mutations cause aging or do they just correlate? Well, given a recent Nature publication we will take a look at these questions in this video.

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TIMESTAMPS:
Intro - 00:00
Intestine and clonality - 00:29
Somatic mutation theory of aging - 03:42
How somatic mutations scale with lifespan - 05:00
Thoughts - 06:35

References:
Cagan, A., Baez-Ortega, A., Brzozowska, N. et al. Somatic mutation rates scale with lifespan across mammals. Nature 604, 517–524 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04...
Curtis, H.J. (1965). The Somatic Mutation Theory of Aging. In: Kastenbaum, R. (eds) Contributions to the Psychobiology of Aging. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-398...
Snippert, H. J. et al. Intestinal crypt homeostasis results from neutral competition between symmetrically dividing Lgr5 stem cells. Cell 143, 134–144 (2010)
Lee-Six, H., Olafsson, S., Ellis, P. et al. The landscape of somatic mutation in normal colorectal epithelial cells. Nature 574, 532–537 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-16...
Ellis, P., Moore, L., Sanders, M.A. et al. Reliable detection of somatic mutations in solid tissues by laser-capture microdissection and low-input DNA sequencing. Nat Protoc 16, 841–871 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41596-020-00...

Please note that The Sheekey Science Show is distinct from Eleanor Sheekey's teaching and research roles at the University of Cambridge. The information provided in this show is not medical advice, nor should it be taken or applied as a replacement for medical advice. The Sheekey Science Show and guests assume no liability for the application of the information discussed.

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